The claim that numerous books were considered canon by various Christian groups contradicts the historical reality
Early Christian communities did have some variations in their canons
These statement are at direct odds.
but there was a gradual consensus
There is a gradual consensus recorded by those very same people who won the war. And indeed, it was a war, with deaths and laws and conquerors etc. Certain beliefs were stamped out, written out by law under penalty of death.
How exactly was consensus created? Was it "gradual"? Sure, there is evidence of steps of the people who are commonly quoted, but importantly, there is evidence of different views that were labeled "heretical" during those "gradual" steps as well. Were they truly "heretical," or were they stated as such by the victors? I doubt the numerous people, of which there is substantial historical record that still exists today considered themselves to be heretical. Again, the victors of that war called them heretics, and those same victors wrote the bible its modern day adherents consider "the total and complete truth."
Authorship of 2 Timothy: You suggest uncertainty about the authorship of 2 Timothy (by citing a Wiki page
Wikipedia is useful. You can, from there, dig deeper because they cite their sources. I could have instead gone to the sources, dug that out and quoted it. Would that have made it better for you or would you have instead rolled your eyes at that?
assert it may have been created during the construction of a Church hierarchy
There is no doubt, as far as I have seen, that that was the case. A Church Hierarchy was being created. It was part of the Christian Beliefs war. No one doubts that statement. Why do you?
oversimplifies
All of history is an "oversimplification." But one can put things simply, while appreciating that there is a lot that complicates it. However, the statements I have made have to do with important pieces of evidence that are left out of the narrative of the True Believers. That all by itself should tell you something.
contradicts the historical reality
Early Christian communities did have some variations in their canons
These statement are at direct odds.
but there was a gradual consensus
There is a gradual consensus recorded by those very same people who won the war. And indeed, it was a war, with deaths and laws and conquerors etc. Certain beliefs were stamped out, written out by law under penalty of death.
How exactly was consensus created? Was it "gradual"? Sure, there is evidence of steps of the people who are commonly quoted, but importantly, there is evidence of different views that were labeled "heretical" during those "gradual" steps as well. Were they truly "heretical," or were they stated as such by the victors? I doubt the numerous people, of which there is substantial historical record that still exists today considered themselves to be heretical. Again, the victors of that war called them heretics, and those same victors wrote the bible its modern day adherents consider "the total and complete truth."
Authorship of 2 Timothy: You suggest uncertainty about the authorship of 2 Timothy (by citing a Wiki page
Wikipedia is useful. You can, from there, dig deeper because they cite their sources. I could have instead gone to the sources, dug that out and quoted it. Would that have made it better for you or would you have instead rolled your eyes at that?
assert it may have been created during the construction of a Church hierarchy
There is no doubt, as far as I have seen, that that was the case. A Church Hierarchy was being created. It was part of the Christian Beliefs war. No one doubts that statement. Why do you?
oversimplifies
All of history is an "oversimplification." But one can put things simply, while appreciating that there is a lot that complicates it. However, the statements I have made have to do with important pieces of evidence that are left out of the narrative of the True Believers. That all by itself should tell you something.
contradicts the historical reality
Early Christian communities did have some variations in their canons
These statement are at direct odds.
but there was a gradual consensus
There is a gradual consensus recorded by those very same people who won the war. And indeed, it was a war, with deaths and laws and conquerors etc. Certain beliefs were stamped out, written out by law under penalty of death.
How exactly was consensus created? Was it "gradual"? Sure, there is evidence of steps of the people who are commonly quoted, but importantly, there is evidence of different views that were labeled "heretical" during those "gradual" steps as well. Were they truly "heretical," or were they stated as such by the victors? I doubt the numerous people, of which there is substantial historical record that still exists today considered themselves to be heretical. Again, the victors of that war called them heretics, and those same victors wrote the bible its modern day adherents consider "the total and complete truth.
Authorship of 2 Timothy: You suggest uncertainty about the authorship of 2 Timothy (by citing a Wiki page
Wikipedia is useful. You can, from there, dig deeper because they cite their sources. I could have instead gone to the sources, dug that out and quoted it. Would that have made it better for you or would you have instead rolled your eyes at that?
assert it may have been created during the construction of a Church hierarchy
There is no doubt, as far as I have seen, that that was the case. A Church Hierarchy was being created. It was part of the Christian Beliefs war. No one doubts that statement. Why do you?
oversimplifies
All of history is an "oversimplification." But one can put things simply, while appreciating that there is a lot that complicates it. However, the statements I have made have to do with important pieces of evidence that are left out of the narrative of the True Believers. That all by itself should tell you something.
contradicts the historical reality
Early Christian communities did have some variations in their canons
These statement are at direct odds.
but there was a gradual consensus
There is a gradual consensus recorded by those very same people who won the war. And indeed, it was a war, with deaths and laws and conquerors etc. Certain beliefs were stamped out, written out by law under penalty of death.
How exactly was consensus created? Was it "gradual"? Sure, there is evidence of steps of the people who are commonly quoted, but importantly, there is evidence of different views that are considered "heretical". Were they truly "heretical," or were they stated as such by the victors? I doubt the numerous people, of which there is substantial historical record that still exists today considered themselves to be heretical. Again, the victors of that war called them heretics, and those same victors wrote the bible its modern day adherents consider "the total and complete truth.
Authorship of 2 Timothy: You suggest uncertainty about the authorship of 2 Timothy (by citing a Wiki page
Wikipedia is useful. You can, from there, dig deeper because they cite their sources. I could have instead gone to the sources, dug that out and quoted it. Would that have made it better for you or would you have instead rolled your eyes at that?
assert it may have been created during the construction of a Church hierarchy
There is no doubt, as far as I have seen, that that was the case. A Church Hierarchy was being created. It was part of the Christian Beliefs war. No one doubts that statement. Why do you?
oversimplifies
All of history is an "oversimplification." But one can put things simply, while appreciating that there is a lot that complicates it. However, the statements I have made have to do with important pieces of evidence that are left out of the narrative of the True Believers. That all by itself should tell you something.